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LAPORTE COUNTY (April 7, 2014) – The driver of a semi truck loaded with potatoes swerved to avoid a deer early Monday morning on the Indiana Toll Road before the truck crashed, setting its load on fire.

According to Indiana State Police, the truck driven by Andrezej J. Kudlacik, 31, Streamwood, Ill., was in the right lane of I-80/I-90 just east of the Michigan City/U.S. 421 exit when the deer ran out in front of him.

Kudlacik veered left, and his truck went off the road into a concrete barrier wall. The truck then rolled onto its left side. He got out of the cab before the truck erupted in flames. Debris from the crash covered all eastbound lanes, and the grassy median also caught fire. Crews from the Westville Fire Department extinguished the flames.

Kudlacik wasn’t hurt and was wearing a seatbelt. He was cited for unsafe lane movement.

Eastbound traffic was diverted off at the Michigan City/U.S. 421 exit for about two hours until the left lane reopened.